Arkansas Tech Golden Suns seniors Jessica Weatherford and Rosie Silva do the majority of their talking on the basketball court. Westin Taylor, however, has no problem answering questions such as, why should people come out and watch ATU’s final home basketball games tonight and Saturday afternoon?

“We’re fun to watch. It’s good basketball. We’re playing two good teams, we’re a good team. There’s a ring on the line, first place in the (Great American) Conference. If you’re an Arkansas Tech fan, we have one of the best atmospheres anywhere. If you’re simply a basketball fan, we’ve got two of the best players in the country.”

Weatherford said she was talking to Suns assistant coach Julio Pacheco earlier Wedneday about her two final home games under the dome. She was a starter since her freshman season, when the Golden Suns made the first of back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Division II Women’s Elite Eight.

“Somebody told when I was a freshman that it goes by fast, but I didn’t know what they were talking about,” she said. “Now that I’m actually here, where did the years go?

“I feel like some part of my life is going to be gone,” Silva said through her “interpreter,” ATU sports information director Paul Smith. “College basketball is something you can never have again, and these will be the last two games I have here.”

The senior trio explained the basketball part of their lives has involved more than the straightforward lifting weights, running sprints and working on court skills.

“People don’t realize that it’s a very mental game,” Taylor pointed out. “You have to know your strengths and weaknesses, not just physically but mentally, and what their coach is going to throw at you, or what you’re going to throw at them. There’s just a lot of mental toughness, because when you’re running sprints, it’s just you and your coach and teammates yelling. People don’t think about that when they think about college basketball. It makes you a better person, not just physically but all around.”

Westin said she was welcomed to a warm environment when she came to Arkansas Tech last year, and everyone in athletics and her professors have helped her become not just part of the ATU family, but a more-rounded leader.

“Transferring here has made me a better person,” she said.

Taylor went on to say fans also may not realize the responsibility the seniors have of being Golden Suns — playing their style of basketball and being ambassadors for the tradition-filled program.

“I knew when I made the decision to come here, being a Golden Sun was a responsibility,” Taylor said.

“I grew up 70 miles from here, and Golden Suns basketball was the epitome of basketball, here and nationally. It means everybody was watching you, you are representing yourself, your teammates, your university, your program.”

The seniors want to have more to say than they did in last year’s post season. The Golden Suns lost in the first round of the inaugural Great American Conference Tournament, and after making back-to-back Elite Eight appearances, Arkansas Tech’s women went back home without making the NCAA D-II Tournament.

“Losing out in the first round was definitely not our plan,” Weatherford said. “From being on the team last year, Rosie and I don’t want the same results. We want to win the conference, win the conference tournament and get back to the NCAA Tournament.”

“We want to go as far as we can,” Silva added.

***

The Wonder Boys started the 2012-13 season with 17 players. They’re down to eight, but don’t even think about counting them out.

Also the defending GAC regular-season champs, Arkansas Tech’s men can claim their second straight title with wins tonight and Saturday afternoon.

All their seniors want is an opportunity to get to shine on the big stage — the NCAA D-II Men’s Tournament — and they’ve got to win the GAC Tournament again to do it. But that’s a long way from now.

Jared Williamson of Russellville and Will Paul said this season has been the loudest inside Tucker Coliseum since they’ve been at ATU.

“It (Coliseum Crew) has helped get people involved with the program, with what we’re doing again,” Paul said. “As much as we play for the fans, we play for each other, because we are accountable for ourselves. When they are yelling and screaming, it really does make a difference. It can get you back in a game, especially when you’ve done something bad.

“It’s always like another team cheering you on,” Williamson said. “I never liked to play in a quiet arena. We all want the atmosphere like you see on TV.”

But the smartest TV minds couldn’t have written a script like the Wonder Boys’ 2012-13 season. After getting their heads down after a 2-4 start to the season, Arkansas Tech’s men have gone 13-5 and clawed their way to the top of the GAC men’s division — even with the loss of seniors Paul and Jeff Reese, and six other Wonder Boys.

But the adversity has made the team stronger, the seniors explained.

“It’s brought us more together as a team and as a family,” Willie Kirkland said. “It brings you more together as a unit. This basketball season has been a life lesson, up and down. There’s been some trying times, that’s for sure. But it’s how you overcome that makes you stronger.”

“The thing that kills me is, I wonder what it would have been like if we had everybody,” Williamson said. “I don’t think we have any fear because of everything that has happened. Our team motto is, ‘We started from the bottom, and now we’re here.’

“We’ve just got to do what we do. It came down to a few possessions (in a loss at Harding). If they (supporters) come cheer hard for us, we’ll play hard for them.”

“It was tough losing guys every couple of weeks, losing confidence,” Paul said. “Now with it being at the end of the season, we’re hoping for a favorable look from the (NCAA Tournament Selection) Committee.

“We want people here to know Arkansas Tech basketball will compete for championships, we’re getting familiar with the community, and we want to let people know we want to represent the university well. We’ll give them a reason to cheer, get into the game.”

Wonder Boys head coach Doug Karleskint said he had seen and heard of other programs go through the situations like this, but he has learned a lot through the experience, which has also made him a better coach.

“The kids are fighting their tails off. I’m so proud of them,” he said. “They really had so many obstacles they faced this year and have turned them into so many good opportunities. We’re down to just a limited number of guys, and they have really bonded and are rooting for each other. They have the feeling their back is against the wall every single night, and that’s not a bad thing.

“Going into this weekend, eight teams have a chance to win 10 or more conference games. We control our own destiny. The players just feed off the energy of the crowd. We’ve had such a boost from the Coliseum Crew this year. Thanks to Ben Stiles and Brad Palmer. We’d love to see it get loud and rowdy our last two nights here.”

Coach K called Williamson the rock of the Wonder Boys basketball team. More importantly, he’s been impressed with how far the former Cyclone has come in the last three years, not just as a player but as a person.

“You just feel so bad for him having to sit out the last two months,” Karleskint said about Paul. “It’s tough to watch someone with as much talent and such a good person not finish his senior year as he wanted on the floor.

“Willie’s had a lot of games where he really carried us offensively. He’s been a huge bright spot for us, especially at times when we really needed it. Paul Cooper is one of the finest young men I’ve every had the pleasure of coaching. He’s been struggling this year with different types of injuries, but he’s been a good presence for us in the post all year long. He will succeed in life no matter what he decides or wants to do.

“Jeff (Reese) has been with us for two and a half years,” the coach added. “He’s the guy I’ve become close with.

“He spent the summer here working on his game. I hate the fact he’s not finishing his senior season out there with his teammates. But in the grand scheme of things, we’re glad he’s alive today.”